35th Singapore International Film Festival Opens with Southeast Asian Premiere of Stranger Eyes

The 35th Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) launched on 28 November 2024, celebrating the power of Asian storytelling in a star-studded evening at Capitol Theatre. The festival opened with the Southeast Asian premiere of Singaporean director Yeo Siew Hua’s award-winning thriller Stranger Eyes, setting the tone for a cinematic journey featuring 105 films from 48 countries, with a strong focus on Asian voices.

A Night of Stars and Accolades

Guest of Honour President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Distinguished Guest Minister Josephine Teo, and the film’s cast, including Lee Kang-sheng, graced the red carpet. Lee, a veteran Taiwanese actor, received the Screen Icon Award for his extraordinary contributions to Asian cinema, joining a prestigious list of past honorees like Michelle Yeoh and Koji Yakusho.

Joining the celebrations were SGIFF’s inaugural ambassador, Rebecca Lim, and the team from The Small Hours of the Night.

Opening Film Highlights: Stranger Eyes

Selected for the main competition at the Venice Film Festival, Stranger Eyes explores life under surveillance, reflecting on the interplay of AI, technology, and privacy. A co-production spanning Singapore, Taiwan, France, and the USA, the film underscores the festival’s theme of cross-cultural collaboration.

Lee stars as a supermarket worker entangled in the mystery of a missing girl, delivering a haunting performance that resonated deeply with audiences.

Spotlight on Asian Cinema

SGIFF 2024 continues its mission to elevate Asian voices with 24 Singapore-made or co-produced films competing for the Audience Choice Award. The revamped award, determined entirely by audience votes, aims to bolster local filmmaking by improving winners’ chances of securing distribution deals.

Special Presentations and Southeast Asian Premieres

SGIFF’s special screenings bring world-class talent to Singapore:

• The Fable (30 November): Bollywood star Manoj Bajpayee joined director Raam Reddy to showcase a tale of resilience and inequality set in 1980s India.
• Spirit World (30 November): Singaporean director Eric Khoo was joined by an ensemble cast, including Masaaki Sakai, to present this Tokyo-set fantasy drama.
• The Unseen Sister (6 December): Director Midi Z and actress Zhao Liying will attend the premiere of this psychological drama adapted from Zhang Yueran’s novel Qiao Sisters.

Empowering Creativity: Industry Days and Forums

This year introduces SGIFF Industry Days (3–5 December), a new conference at LASALLE College of the Arts that brings together filmmakers from across Southeast Asia. The event includes 15 sessions on topics such as global market navigation for Asian-led stories and crafting authentic performances.

The beloved Forum platform returns, offering panels and exclusive talks with cinematic visionaries like Lee Kang-sheng, Jafar Panahi, and Manoj Bajpayee, alongside the third edition of the lively Mildly Offensive, Sometimes Accurate panel.

Join the Celebration

SGIFF 2024 runs until 8 December 2024, offering a diverse range of screenings and events. Tickets for regular screenings are priced at $15, with special bundles available. Visit SGIFF for more details and schedules.